Iraq: 2852 violent deaths so far this month

Understanding the horrors that we have continued to
bring to Iraqis since 1991 helps us see that what is happening in Iraq
is a legitimate rebellion against a brutal dictator (a theocratic one
instead of a secular one). US President Barack Obama is sending more
troops to Iraq [15] to defend the sectarian government from the Iraqi
people. Instead of sending more forces in, Mr. President, fly as many
planes as you need to Baghdad, load up every last American and the
bloody US-installed government, and leave. If you can find it, pick up
your dignity [16] on your way out.

In other news, related to the arrival of the forces, a parade took place. NINA notes, "The Sadrists conducted a military parade in some of Iraqi governorates on Saturday morning 21, June, for the volunteers who responded to the call of the Supreme Religious Authority to fight terrorism and defending homeland." Matt Bronw (Australia's ABC) reports:About 20,000 armed men marched through Sadr city in eastern Baghdad, in a parade called for by powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.They
carried rocket-propelled grenades and rifles, while trucks were mounted
with long-range rockets, including the new three-metre Moqtada 1
missile, named after Mr Sadr.[. . .]He
said the group is planning to defend shrines in Iraq, whether they are
Shiite, Sunni or Christian, and to fight any American intervention.

Moqtada al-Sadr was one of the most vocal opponents of the US occupation and he has continued to vocally call out the occupation even with the December 2011 drawdown (he's called the US Embassy in Baghdad and its staff, the security contractors and the US military left in Iraq -- he's seen all as part of a continued occupation).

He's not the only Iraqi political leader making the news. Al Mada notes KRG President Massoud Barzani met yesterday with Iraqi National Congress head Ahmed Chalabi and they discussed security and political issues. Press TV interviews American journalist Wayne Madison who states the US government is pushing Chalabi to be the new prime minister of Iraq. NINA reports:

A Jordanian newspaper quoted, on Saturday 21, June, Iraqi sources as saying that the former Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi is holding being, in the Jordanian capital Amman, meetings with Iraqi and foreign figures to put them in the form of the repercussions of the situation in Iraq and the formation of a national salvation government and parliament leads to civil peace.

Through Friday, Iraq Body Count counts 2852 violent deaths in the month so far. Awhile back, the press narrative went 'worst violence since 2008.' It's now worst violence since 2007 and the only higher death toll IBC has for 2007 is January 2007 when they recorded 3014 deaths. The month of June is not yet over. It could top January. Right now there's a difference of 162 deaths and there are ten days left to record violence for (remember, IBC's count is through Friday, not through today).

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